Roll-map display stand



y 7, 1963 L. E. MAGERS 3,088,229

ROLL-MAP DISPLAY STAND Filed Feb. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 1 051a 5 Ma e7 5 A T )RNEYS 3,388,229 Patented May 7., 1963 has 3,688,229 ROLL-MAP DISPLAY STAND Lloyd E. Magers, Evanston, 111., assiguor'to State Bank and Trust Company, Evanston, 111., a corporation of Illinois, and Lloyd E. Magers, Evanston, 11]., trustees Filed Feb. 5, 1961, Ser. N 87,424 9 Claims. (Cl. 35-60) This invention relates to a roll-map display stand, and more particularly to a mobile stand which retains a plurality of maps so as to afford ready removal for use and which provides for effective display of the maps in a desired position, selectively.

It has been the usual practice in school rooms and the like to place map-rails with roll-maps thereon just above the chalk blackboards. As a result, the maps have been difficult to view because they were not sufliciently high above the floor in the rolled-down position thereof. Also, the maps covered the blackboards when thus exposed, thereby preventing full use of the blackboards for explanatory purposes. And securing the maps at the blackboards precluded close-up viewing and restricted the maps to a specific position.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by means of a roll-map display stand and/or rack which provides for the retention of fourteen to twenty rolled-up maps in the central areas thereof, with support and divider means being afforded for this purpose. However, pursuant to a basic purpose of the invention, means are provided so that individual maps may be removed immediately when desired and thereupon placed into display position at a suitable height above the floor.

Thus, upright tubes are telescopically received in complementary and larger frame tubes for the stand, and the height of the upright tubes is adjustable so that the maps may be placed in a display position up to, for example, eighty-two inches above the floor. It will be appreciated that this is a very important factor in effective viewing by students.

Furthermore, the mounting of the rolled-up maps in display position is accomplished by means of map-rails of preferably unitary construction, which may be placed on individual pairs of the upright tubes by means of hook elements in the back portions of the said map-rails, so that no bolts or screws need be handled by the teacher. And, the stand may be constructed as a single unit or by means of several screw elements, whichever is the more desirable to meet individual conditions.

In order to permit movement of the stand or rack from one position in a school room to another, as for example to permit students in the rear areas of a school room to examine a map at the back of the room while students in the front of the room are busy at their desks, or facing the front of the room, the stand is preferably provided with rollers at the bottom of the larger frame tubes, and the frame tubes are configured symmetrically to afiord a base which is stable and simple.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roll-map display stand or rack which permits maps to be displayed at a desired height by means of an adjustable characteristic of the stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rollmap display stand as described wherein the stand and the maps thereon may be moved as close as desired to a group of students or the like, as for example, from eight to twelve feet closer to the students than had been possible with previously available maps which were hung from the blackboard areas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a map stand as described which permits the maps to be aligned in any direction for better lighting, thereby improving the instructional process and saving the eyesight of the pupils.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rollmap display stand as described which may be selectively positioned in any desired location in a school room, so that, for example, one group of students in the room may study and the other group may examine the map.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roll-map display stand as described which may be moved from one room to another thereby permitting sharing of maps and the saving of the large amounts of money heretofore necessary for duplicate map purchases. However, the stand of the invention also permits the storage of a relatively large number of maps so that the flexibility of instruction is enhanced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand or rack as described wherein the individual rolled-up maps may be placed on supports which prevents their slipping, and held for ready removal by means of divider elements at the upper end of the stand or rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described wherein map-rails of preferably aluminum construction may be selectively inserted and removed from the top of telescopically adjustable upright tubes by means of hook elements so that no bolts or screws need be manipulated by the teacher in placing a map in condition for viewing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rollmap display stand as described which may be constructed in an extremely simple manner so that manufacturing costs are minimized, and which may be shipped knockeddown into a fiat carton and thereafter fully assembled by a minimum number of heavy duty screws or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end perspective view of a roll-map display stand according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, slightly enlarged, of the stand shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly broken away, of the upper portion of the display stand shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, and with map-rails and roll-maps in assembled relation therewith;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along the lines V-V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end view, partly broken away and in vertical section, of bolt means for releasably assembling the upper end of the stand of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged end view, partly broken away, of bottom tray or support means for maps to be held in the stand of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a roll-map display stand 10 is shown which comprises a plurality of frame tubes 12, 14, 16 and 18 which are joined by a base 20 at the lower end and a grid 22 at the upper end in upstanding spaced apart relationship as hereinafter further described. The individual pairs of frame tubes 12 and 18, and 14 and 16, have their lower ends turned outwardly away from each other and then downwardly to provide a highly stable construction for the stand, with the base 20 preferably being secured at the relatively wider portion thereof as hereinafter further described. Further, rollers 24 are preferably utilized at the bottom ends of the frame tubes .12 through 18 whereby the maps may be moved from one part of a school room to another, or between school rooms, or the like, so as to eliminate the need for providing a multiplicity of maps in each of the school rooms.

Upper tubes 26, 28, 30 and 32 are respectively teleecopically received in the frame tubes '12 through 18 for adjustment to a desired height by means of removable pins or the like 34 selectively positionable in vertically spaced orifices 35 in each of the upper tubes 28 through 32. Preferably, the pins 34 are of an inverted V-shaped configuration so as to be maintained within the upper tubes against inadvertent removal, and so as to hook over the adjacent upper ends of the frame tubes respectively receiving the upper tubes.

As a result, the upper tubes 26 through 32 may be set at corresponding elevations for placing a map in a position where it is well spaced from the floor, thereby giving full visualization thereof to students or other viewers.

In order to support maps for selective elevation as described, map-rails may be provided which are generally designated by reference numeral 36 and may include hook-like straps 38 and 40 which are secured by screws 42 or the like to individual map-rail elements 44 and 46. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 4 in particular, the hook straps 38 and 40 are selectively and releasably engageable in the upper ends of longitudinally aligned upright tubes, as for example, the upright tubes 30 and 32 in the example shown. 'And, as also seen in FIGURE 4, the ends of the map-rail elements 44 and 46 desirably extend for a substantial distance on either side of the upright tube portions 30 and 32.

In accordance with the invention, the map-rail elements 44 and 46 may slidably and releasably receive roll-maps generally indicated by reference numerals 48 and 50 in superposed relation so that individual maps rolled thereon may be shown in contrasting relationship or alternately exposed as desired. To this end, slides 52 and 54 are provided to permit ready slidably movement of roll-maps thereon into display position from the ends of the rails, or removal from the rails, selectively, the slides having a U- shaped cross-section for this purpose.

Preferably, the roll-maps 48 and 50 include spring biased roller elements having journalled ends 56, 58 and 60, 62 which may be releasably engaged in apertured brackets 64, 66, 68 and 70 fixedly secured to the slides 52 and 54, whereby the maps may be extended and released in accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art.

In order to permit ready slidably movement of the slides 52 and 54 along the map-rail elements 44 and 46, spacer elements such as indicated at 72 and 74 in FIG- URE 6 are interposed between the rail elements and the straps to which they are secured, and the spacer elements 72 and 74 may surround the individual screws 42 as shown.

Although the map structures 48 and 50 are shown in' central location on the map-rail elements 44 and 46, it will be seen thata pair of such elements may be disposed on each of the map-rail elements 44 and 46 as by cantilevering the slides for the individual maps on the map-rail elements in-side-by-side relationship. 'It will also be understood that slides of various lengths may be used for dtferent widths in the maps or the like.

The base 20 cooperates with the grid 22 to afford a rack and support means forstoring orrholding maps until such time as they are displayed on the map rails 44 and 46, as hereinabove set forth. Tothis end, the grid 22 mayinclude a pair of transverse bars '76 and 78 secured to respective frame tubes or uprights 12 and .18, and 14 and 16, respectively, by suitable means as hereinafter further described, Also, a pair of longitudinally extend-' ing bars 80 and 82 may extend between the respective bars 76 and 78 in parallel, spaced-a-part relationship as 4 secured to the transverse bars by suitable means also hereinafter further described. The longitudinally extending bars 80 and 82 provide a support structure for divider elements which are indicated by reference numerals 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3 in particular. 7 The divider elements 84 through 94 may be disposed in parallel, spaced-apart relationship with the spacing therebetween preferably being such as to accommodate maps of various sizes as desired, so that, for example, the spacing between the dividers 88 and 90 may be approximately four inches and the spacing between other dividers may be somewhat less, as may suit particular conditions, and it will be understood that the number of such dividers may also bevaried in accordance with the number of maps to be retained. The dividers preferably extend equally on opposite sides of the bars 80 and 82, as for example, by three inches on each side, so that individual maps such as the map 48 shown in FIGURE 1 may be received between the extending ends of adjacent dividers as shown. a

The base 20 includes a pair of troughs 96 and98 having ribbed rubber mats 100 and 102 at the bottoms thereof so as to engage the lower ends of the maps supported in the structure 10 and prevent lateral or endwise slipping thereof. Thus the individual maps may be securely stored and moved from one location to another without any hazard that they will inadvertently fall out of the stand 10.

As seen in FIGURE 9, the individual troughs 96 and 98 may include a generally U-shaped member 104 having outwardly and downwardly extending marginal edges 106 and 108, in the example shown in FIGURE 9 with respect to the trough 96, with the marginal portions 106 and 108 having nuts or the like 112 brazed in closely fitting relation therein to receive heavy duty screws and 114 at each end of the said troughs.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, the grid 22 may have the longitudinal bars 80 and 82 secured to the transverse bars 76 and 78 thereof by bolts or heavy duty screws 116 and 118 at each end of the said longitudinal bars. These bolts may have their ends threaded for engagement in disks 120 spun-into the individual tubes 80 and 82 and connected permanently by indentations 121 for-med around the end portions of the bars 80 and 82. The individual dividers 84 through 94 may be welded onto the tubes or bars 80 and 82 by welding 123 also as seen in FIGURE 7, although other forms of connection may be used within the scope of the invention. The

transverse bars 76 and 78 may be permanently connected to the respective uprights 12 through 18, although they also may be secured releasably thereto by suitable means so as not to interfere with the telescopic relationship of the upper tubes 26 through 32 therein. The bars 122 and 124 may also be releasably secured to the uprights 12 through 18 respectively, although they may be permanently secured as in the case of the upper transverse bars 76 and 78. The screws 1'10 and 114, respectively desirably extend through transverse bars 122 and 124. The stand may be readily disassembled, and packed in a flat condition, by release of the screws 110 and 114, and 116 and 118. Also, however, the entire structure may be brazed in permanently assembled condition.

Thus a rugged, simple and attractive device has been provided which is readily accessible and may maintain from fourteen to twenty maps in stored condition in a construction as shown, or any desired number of maps in accordance with the number of dividers provided and the particular dimensional relationships selected.

Because the device can be placed at any angle, lighting conditions may be made optimum thereby alfording a saving in the eyesight of the pupils and providing far more effective map teaching than has been possible previously. Furthermore, where a map is rather large, and

would, if hung from a blackboard, extend below the line of vision of the students, elevating the tubes 26 through 32 and maintaining them in elevated position by means of the pins 34 will serve to raise even the lowermost portions of the map into the line of sight.

Also, maps may be brought forwardly from eight to twelve feet closer to the pupils than would be possible with the presently available maps which are hung from the blackboard, and, as stated, the mobility of the device permits its movement from one classroom to another, or from the front to the rear of the classroom so that teaching activities may be concentrated and a single set of.maps may serve a large number of teaching centers.

The storage of the individual maps is especially secure, because the rib construction of the rubber mats 100, 102 positively prevents slipping of the lower ends of the maps, while the upper ends are securely held between the individual dividers as shown, by leaning against bars 80 and 82.

Also, removal of the maps is readily accomplished simply by sliding the maps from between the dividers since there is no obstruction at the ends of the maps, and the individual map-rails may be mounted in position either before or after the removal of the maps, although desirably before elevation of the respective tubes on which the map-rails may be secured. Likewise, replacement of one map on the map-rails and storing of a replaced map is possible during a lecture or the like, and the divider structure will maintain the individual maps in an orderly relationship so that selection is easy and accurate.

Thus the device of the invention is adapted to serve as a roll-map stand and/ or rack which is efiective for keeping a plurality of maps in accessible relationship and positioning maps so that the relation between several maps may be pointed out and the maps displayed simultaneously. Also, one map rail may be used on one side of the stand and a double map rail on the other side if desired, thereby providing an effective and economical unit, although double map rails as shown may be used on both sides to meet particular requirements.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, and with respect to maps in particular, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular application or these princples and details, and encompasses the concepts and features set forth in the hereunto appended claims as follows.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display stand for roll-maps and the like comprising a support structure including a plurality of frame tubes and a plurality of upper tubes telescoped in said frame tubes, means on said upper tubes for supporting roll-maps and the like in display position, a plurality of vertically shaped apertures formed in each of said upper tubes and a hook-like retainer releasably received in an aperture in each of said upper tubes and engaging the upper end of the corresponding frame tube therefor whereby to afford secure positioning of a roll-map or the like at a desired elevation.

2. In a display stand for maps, charts and the like, a plurality of uprights, means connecting said uprights in spaced apart relation and map-rail structure including an elongated rail, means releasably securing said rail to a pair of said uprights, including a pair of depending straps, means connecting said rail to said straps and spacer means maintaining said rail in spaced relation to said straps, and a slide of generally U-shaped cross-section mounted on said rail for uninterrupted slidable movement therealong, said slide having outwardly extending brackets for releasably engaging a roll-map or the like.

3. In a display stand for maps, charts and the like, a plurality of uprights, means connecting said uprights in spaced apart relation and a map-rail structure including a pair of elongated rails, means releasably securing said rails to a pair of said uprights, including a pair of depending straps, and means connecting said rails to said straps in parallel spaced relation to one another and a slide of generally U-shaped cross-section mounted on each of said rail-s for uninterrupted slidable movement therealong, said slide having outwardly extending brackets for releasably engaging a roll-map or the like.

4. In a display stand for maps, charts and the like, a plurality of uprights having openings at the upper ends thereof, means connecting said uprights in spaced apart relation and a map-rail structure'including an elongated rail, means releasably securing said rail to a pair of said uprights, including a pair of depending straps each having a hook portion inserted in an upright opening, means connecting said rail to said straps and spacer means maintaining said rail in spaced relation to said straps and a slide of generally Ushaped cross-section mounted on said rail of uninterrupted slidable movement therealong, said slide having outwardly extending brackets for releasably engaging a roll-map or the like.

5. In a stand for the selective retention and display of roll-maps and the like, a pair of ends each having a pair of uprights with the lower portions thereof turned outwardly nad downwardly, a base connected across said downwardly turned portions of said upright and means connected across upper portions of said uprights for separating and removably retaining roll-maps or the like supported end-wise on said base, said base including a pair of troughs extending longitudinally therealong on each side of said stand and said means including a pair of longitudinal bars in parallel spaced relation against which the roll-maps or the like may lean, with the roll-maps or the like in one trough leaning against one bar and the rol-maps or the like in the other trough leaning against the other bar.

6. A roll-map storage and display device which comprises an upright stand having a base adapted to support the bottom ends of rolled-up maps or the like and a top with a plurality of dividers defining open ended spaces therebetween to receive rolled-up maps on said base for cooperating with the base to store the maps in upright side-by-side relation, extensible supports carried 'by the stand to project above the top of the stand :at selected heights, and horizontal map hangers carried by the supports adapted to hold the rolled-up maps in horizontal position for unrolling in front of the device in unobstructed display condition.

7. A stand for retaining maps, charts and the like comprising two pairs of frame tubes, first transverse tubes adjacent the bottoms of the frame tubes fixedly connecting each frame tube of said pairs of frame tubes in upright parallel relation, second transverse tubes adjacent the tops of the frame tubes cooperating with said first tubes to fixedly connect each frame tube of said pairs of frame tubes in parallel relation, a longitudinal tube interconnecting said second transverse tubes, a base member interconnecting said first transverse tubes, a plurality of transverse divider elements on said longitudinal tube for receiving therebetween rolled maps supported on said base, upper tubes telescoped in said frame tubes and projecting from the tops thereof, means for adjustably elevating said upper tubes in said frame tubes, and detachable map hangers connected to the upper ends of said upper tubes for spanning the space between the pair of frame tubes to support maps in front of and in back of said stand at desired heights determined by the elevation of said upper tubes.

8. A mobile roll map storage and display stand which comprises a pair of spaced end frames each having a pair of elongated upright open topped frame tubes with outturned and downturned bottom ends, a base connected to the downturned ends of said tubes adjacent the bottoms thereof and spanning the space between the end frames, a

grid connected to the upper ends of said frame tubes providing slots between the end frames to receive rolled up maps mounted on said base, casters on the bottom ends of said frame tubes, open topped extension tubes telescoped in said frame tubes and projecting from the tops of said frame tubes, means controlling the extent of projection of the extension tubes from the open tops of the frame tubes, map rails adapted to span the space between the end frames in front of and behind said grid, and hooks on said map rails engageable in the open tops of said extension tubes for mounting the rails on said extension tubes whereby rolled up maps supported on said base and projecting through the slots provided by said grid can be selectively hung from said map rails and displayed on both the front and back sides of said stand without inter iering With remaining rolled up maps supported on the base and projecting through said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 815,974 Nacken Mar. 27, 1906 1,248,685 Lewter Dec. 4, 1917 1,821,621 Durand Sept. 1, 1931 1,841,753 Merkle Jan. 19, 1932 2,260,294 Brown 'Oct. 28, 1941 2,262,624 Scarborough Nov. 11, 1941 

1. A DISPLAY STAND FOR ROLL-MAPS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A SUPPORT STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF FRAME TUBES AND A PLURALITY OF UPPER TUBES TELESCOPED IN SAID FRAME TUBES, MEANS ON SAID UPPER TUBES FOR SUPPORTING ROLL-MAPS AND THE LIKE IN DISPLAY POSITION, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SHAPED APERTURES FORMED IN EACH OF SAID UPPER TUBES AND A HOOK-LIKE RETAINER RELEASABLY RECEIVED IN AN APERTURE IN EACH OF SAID UPPER TUBES AND ENGAGING THE UPPER END OF THE CORRESPONDING FRAME TUBE THER WHEREBY TO AFFORD SECURE POSITIONING OF A ROLL-MAP THE LIKE AT A DESIRED ELEVATION. 